WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS – Rev. Talia Raymond

PRELUDE – “The Junk Man Rag” by C. Luckyth Roberts – Offered by Flute: Sally Simonis and Mary Fukuyama, Violin: Ruth Saunders, Clarinet: Cheryl Poe, Bass: Jackie Davis                    

CALL TO WORSHIP – Readings from young activists changing the world, led by children who are changing ours.

Anni Maxwell:  We deserve a safe future. And we demand a safe future. Is that really too much to ask? We children are doing this to wake the adults up. We children are doing this for you to put your differences aside and start acting as you would in a crisis. We children are doing this because we want our hopes and dreams back. Since our leaders are behaving like children, we will have to take the responsibility they should have taken long ago. You must take action. You must do the impossible. Because giving up can never ever be an option. – Greta Thunberg, Environmental Activist

Emi Maxwell:  When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful. I raise up my voice-not so I can shout but so that those without a voice can be heard…we cannot succeed when half of us are held back. If one man can destroy everything, why can’t one girl change it? – Malala Yousafzai, Education Activist

Vivienne Larson:  When you are reading about a book, you focus on the main character, of course. When you have something in common with them and connect with them, you remember the lessons they learned, and then you can apply them to your life. So you can live the best life you can. Girls of color and young women need to be seen, heard, and valued. Schools can help make this happen by including our stories in the curriculum. I’m working to create a space where it feels easy to include and imagine black girls and make black girls like me the main characters of our lives. -Marley Dias, #1000BlackGirlBooks

Finn DeMouey:  People believe that the youth of this country are insignificant. People believe that the youth have no voice. I say that we were the only people who could have made this movement possible. -Alex Wind, Parkland Student

My grandfather had a dream that his children would not be judged by the color of their skin but the content of their character. I have a dream that enough is enough. -Yolanda Renee King, 9, granddaughter of Martin Luther King Jr. & Coretta Scott King

-Both readings from speeches at the March for Our Lives, 2017

Aiyana Duerksen-Raymond: If someone is judging you without knowing the content of your character, don’t listen to them. It’s not okay; I’m not going to tolerate it. In fact, it motivates me, because it shows me that there is still more education that needs to happen. I will continue advocating for my community until it’s resolved, and the hate is gone. It’s about learning to love yourself. That’s really our main message, that everyone deserves to live their lives authentically, be treated equally and be loved as well. -Jazz Jennings, Transgender Activist

Johan Telg:  I also want to tell the children not to be afraid, because we are not alone. There are still many people that have their hearts filled with love and tenders to snuggle in this path of life. Let’s keep together and fight for the rights. God is with us…

Koa Larson: …We are here together, making a chain of love to protect our families. Let us fight with love, faith, and courage… We are united by a single mission: We want the same rights for all. I have the right to protection. I have the right to live with my parents. I have the right to live without fear. I have the right to be happy. -Sophie Cruz, 6, immigration activist
                                                   
OPENING SONG – “In the Midst of New Dimensions”

TIME WITH CHILDREN AND BIRTHDAYS – “Change Sings” by Amanda Gorman, pictures by Loren Long. Read by Peggy Bowie

INTERLUDE

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan

READING – Taylor Williams

Edward McDonald wrote that when God wants an important thing done in this world or a wrong righted, He goes about it in a very singular way. He doesn’t release thunderbolts or stir up earthquakes. God simply has a tiny baby born, perhaps of a very humble home, perhaps of a very humble mother. And she puts it in the baby’s mind, and then- God waits. The great events of this world are not battles and elections and earthquakes and thunderbolts. The great events are babies, for each child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged with humanity,
but is still expecting goodwill to become incarnate in each human life. It is the responsibility of every adult… to make sure that children hear over and over that we love them and that they are not alone. – Marian Wright Edelman
                                        
SPECIAL MUSIC AND OFFERING – “Maple Leaf Rag” by Scott Joplin – Offered by Flute: Sally Simonis and Mary Fukuyama, Violin: Ruth Saunders,Clarinet: Cheryl Poe, Bass: Jackie Davis

READING -Isaiah 11:6-9

​​The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den. They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

SERMON – “And a Child Must Lead” – Rev. Talia Raymond 

HYMN – “Touch the Earth Lightly”

 BENEDICTION

ALLELUIA

Happy Birthday!